Bobbin holder



July 27, 1948. J GAREY 7 2,445,849

BOBBIN HOLDER Filed July 7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WITNES S' JO/m m. sat/ff BY J. P. GAREY BOBBIN HOLDER July 27, 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 7, 1945 Patented July 27, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT "orrlca John Garey, Elmira Heights, N. Y., asslsnor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application July 7, 1945, Serial No. 603,617 14 Claims. (01. ate-13o) The present invention relates to holders for pendulously supporting bobbins from the creels of spinning frames and the like and relates more particularly to an anti-friction type of bobbin holder. In bobbin holders of this type, such as exemplified by the patent to Sayles, 2,217,922, it has been found that the bearing may become fouled by lint when used under certain .conditions such as in the presence of an air blast type cleaner for the creelboards of spinning frames. Moreover, it is difiicult to construct bobbin holders as now designed so that theywiil function well for all sizes of bobbins.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel bobbin holder which is simple and economical to manufacture and easy to service.

It is a further object to provide such a device having a simplified anti-friction bearing while providing ample swinging motion of the bobbin holder.

It is a further object to provide such a device in which the bearing is associated with a lint guard to exclude lint and other foreign matter from the bearing.

It is a further object to provide such a device wherein laminations of proper form may be assembled to create a bearing housing.

It is a further object to provide such a device having a support bolt which acts as a wall of the bearing chamber.

It is a further object to provide such a device having a brake member for maintaining the thread tension in which the bracket for the brake bar also restrains the bearing housing from rotating relative to the creelboard while the support bolt is being secured.

It is a further object to provide such a device including spring fingers for supporting the bobbin, which are supported at their bases on a diameter smaller than the hole in the smallest bobbin but expand with sufllcient force to hold the largest bobbin:

It is a further object to provide such a device having a separable bearing housing to permit servicing of the bearing without disturbing the mounting screw.

Itis a further object to provide such a device having a cluster of spring units of short vertical dimension anchored at their lower ends whereby the overall length of the bobbin and holder is reduced to a minimum.

It is a further object to provide such a device in which the bearing chamber is substantially sealed against the entrance of lint and other foreign matter.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of certain details of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section of another embodiment of the invention showing the separable bearing housing: r

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one type of bobbin-gripping element; a

Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in section of another embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of a spring member for gripping the bobbin, with its anchor member, of the type shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation partly in section of a further embodiment of the invention.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is illustrated the upper end of a bobbin I adapted to be supported pendulously beneatha creeiboard, a portion of which is shown at 2. The bobbin ,is of conventional form comprising a cylindrical body having an axial opening 8 and counterbored from its lower end to provide a shoulder l.

A spindle ii is arranged to enter the opening I and a pair of spring fingers 6 fixed on the lower end of the spindle 5 in any suitable manner as indicated at l are provided with reverselybent portion 8 adjacent their free ends for engagement with the shoulder I to yieldingly resist re-- moval of the bobbins from the spindle.

Means for rotatably suspending the spindle I from the creelboard 2 is provided comprising a casing or swivel head 0 fixed to the creelboard and having a universal swivel connection to the spindle. As here shown, the casing is formed of a plurality of circular sections or laminations comprising a bottom section It, a plurality of intermediate sections H, and a top section II, all said sections being held together by rivets It so as to form a chamber ii. The top section II of the casing is clamped to the creelboard 1 by means of a bolt l5 and nut It. The bottom section I'll is provided with an opening I! of smaller diameter than the chamber I 4 so as to form an inwardly extending ledge or hearing supporting flange II.

The upper end of the spindle 5 is provided with a flange or head it constituting a bearing race loosely fitting in the chamber l4, and cooperating with a plurality of anti-friction bearing balls 20 beneath said flange for supporting the spindle.

having a flange 22 on According to the present invention, means for excluding lint and undesirable foreign matter from the bearing are provided in the form of a thimble 2| surrounding the spindle I for a substantial part of its length so as to extend substantially into the opening 2 of the bobbin and its upper end seated on the ledge II and forming a closure for the opening ll of the chamber I. It will be noted that the upper surface of the -flange 22 forms the lower race for the anti-friction bearings 22.

A tension bar 22 of the type disclosed in the patent to Mann 2,109,543, is pivotally supported by a wire bracket 24 so as to bear on the package of roving 25 wound on the bobbin. The bracket 2| is arranged to be clamped between the top section l2 of the casing and the creelboard, and serves as a lock member to hold the casing 9 against rotation. For this purpose, one end of the bracket is bent down as shown at 22 so as to enter a recess 21 in the top section |2 of the casing; and the other end of the bracket is bent upward as shown at 28 so as to penetrate the lower surface of the creelboard when the nut I8 is tightened. The casing is then held flrmly against rotation or loosening due to vibration or other causes. I

In assembling the bobbin holder, the thimble 2| is slid over the spindle 5 and then the casing 9 except for the top section l2. One or two of the pairs of fingers 6 are then fixedly assembled on the spindle 5 and the spindle head I! is raised above the chamber ll far enough to permit loading of the balls 2|! in the chamber around the spindle. The top section |2 of the casing is then pressed on the bolt ii, the casing sections III, II and i2 are aligned and rivets l2 driven in place to unite the casing. The end 26 of the bracket 24 is then inserted in the hole 21 of the top section l2, and the assembly is clamped against the creelboard 2 by. means of the nut IS. A bobbin I may now be installed on the holder by pushing it over the spring fingers 8 until the portions 8 expand to engage the shoulder 4 of the bobbin. Inasmuch as the thimble 2| extends a substantial distance into the hole 3 of the bobbin when assembled, it will be seen that lint and other foreign matter from above will drift past the tube in a downward direction and not rise in the clearance space between the thimble and spindle 5, thus creating an eiIective lint guard for the bearings 20. Hole 21 in the top casing section l2 may also be used as a cleanout hole for the bearing by demounting the bobbin holder and blowing compressed air through the hole.

Since the thimble 2| with its flange 22 is designed to flt loosely within the bearing casing 9, the spindle 5 is permitted to have considerable universal movement with respect to the casing 9, which facilitates the application and removal of bobbins where the space between the upper and lower creelboards is restricted. It will be understood of course that during the creeling operation the bobbin hangs substantially vertical while revolving slowly as the yarn is unwound therefrom, so that the opening 11 through the bottom section III of the casing is sealed by the flange 22 of the thimble.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the bobbin holder is generally similar in operation to that shown in Fig. l, and similar parts are similarly numbered. Bearing casing 29, however, is constructed in two parts, an upper-2| and a lower 22 separably joined in any thimble 2| in F18. 1 so suitable manner as by threads 42. Screw-threaded means for attachment to the creelboard are provided in the form of a screw seated in a conical depression ll on the element ii and clamping it to the creelboard by means of a flanged nut 42 countersunk in the top ofthe creelboard 2. The lower half 42 of the casing carries the bearings 2| and a retainer ring it, and is formed with an integral sleeve 21 which encloses the spindle I for a substantial portion of its length, and extends into the bobbin I similarly to the as to form a lint guard.

The lower element of the casing may be demounted for service and repair without disturbing the bobbin holder anchorage to the creelboard. It is only necessary to apply a wrench to the sleeve 41 to unthread the lower part '42 of the casing from the upper part, thus exposing the anti-friction bearing and permitting free access to all the working parts.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 utilizes the same spindle 5, bearings 2n and lint guard 2| as shown in Fig. 1. However, the casing 6| in Fig. 5 is built in the form of a sleeve having a bottom flange 22 on which rests the lint guard 2|, the flange 22 of which forms a race for the bearings 20. Sui'llcient clearance is provided between the opening in the casing 8| and the lint guard 2| and between the spindle 5 and lint guard to permit the desired swinging motion of the spindle when placing a bobbin on the holder.

Screw-threaded means taching the bearing casing 2 in the form of a bolt 62 Bolt 62 has a cylindrical head 65 which is threaded at 66, and mating threads 01 are provided in the upper interior surface of the sleeve 8| for engagement therewith. The bearing casing 6| may thus be disassembled for service and repair without disturbing the bolt 63. It will be noted that in addition to the above functions, the head 65 also serves as the top wall of the bearing enclosure. A tension bar 62 may be supported ii to the creelboard and clamp nut N.

- if desired by interposing a bracket 69 therefor between the casing 8| and creelboard 2. A Belleville washer Ill may also be added above the bracket 69 to assist in locking the screw thread connection 68. 61.

In this embodiment of the invention, a short spring type of bobbin-gripping member 1| is provided for the purpose of further reducing the dimension from the creelboard to the bottom of the bobbin holder. The bobbin-gripping member II is composed of a cluster of flexible flngers I2 made of resilient material such as spring steel and having the adjacent fingers thereof paired together as best illustrated in Fig. 6. Near the tips of the upreaching flngers, reversed bends II are formed to provide seats for the shoulder 4 of the bobbin l. Adjacent fingers 12 are formed in pairs from a continuous piece of stock to create a self-bracing unit having its base portion bent inwardly to provide a clamping surface and having the sides thereof extending at an acute angle from the point of juncture ll of the fingers. A plurality of units are assembled as a cluster with their bases clamped between a scalloped washer l5 and a bottom washer 16 in circular arrangement around the lower end of the spindle I being held by any suitable means such as riveting at 11. Although the flngers 12 are short and stiff compared to fingers 8 of Fig. l, adaptability to various sizes of bobbins is afforded by merely using appropriate 81 435 of scalloped washers I5 and are employed for at-;

assembled and riveted'into place as shown at 11.

Then the balls 20 are placedbetween the spindle head I! and lint guard 2i and the bearing casing II is moved up over the bearing to keep it assembled. Bracket 89 and tension bar GI are placed on top of the head I of the bolt 03, the Belleville washer ll slipped into place and the bolt is inserted through a hole in the creelboard 2. The cap nut 64 is then screwed into place to secure the bolt. The lower subassembly of the bobbin holder is then screwed over the threads 85 of the bolt '3 and turned down tightly with a friction wrench to secure good locking of the mechanism.

The modification of the invention shown in Fig. 7 is generally similar to Fig. and similar parts are similarly numbered. The bearing casing ll, however, is provided with an integral lint guard I. and the spring fingers II are of the same type as disclosed in Fig. 3. Assembly and use of this bobbin holder follows closely that of Fig. 5 and further description of these features is therefore deemed unnecessary.

It will be seen that there is here provided a simple and efi'ective bobbin holder of small dimensions and capable of inexpensive manufacture while being lint-proof and adaptable to a large range of bobbin sizes.

Although certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that other forms are possible and changes may be made in the shape and proportions of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pendulous bobbin holder, bobbin-gripping fingers joined together at the lower ends thereof, a vertical spindle to which said fingers are attached, an anti-friction bearing for the upper end of the spindle. means for supporting and enclosing said bearing, said means being characterized by a downwardly-extending sleeve surrounding said spindle, and means for mounting said bobbin holder on a creelboard.

2. In a vertical bobbin holder, a plurality of resilient supporting members provided with bobbin-retaining shoulders, a vertical spindle having said supporting members mounted on its lower end, said spindle being swiveled at its upper end on an anti-friction bearing, a bearing casing having a bottom surface for seating said bearing, a sleeve loosely coupled to said bearing casing and surrounding said spindle for a substantial portion of its length, and means for mounting the bearing casing on a creelboard.

3. In a pendulous bobbin holder, a vertical spindle, a bobbin-supporting member fixed to the lower end of said spindle, said member having means for engaging and supporting a bobbin, anti-friction bearing means for pendulously supporting said spindle at its upper end, a casing for said bearing, a sleeve associated with the casing loosely surrounding said spindle for a substantial portion of its length, and means for attaching the casing to a 'creelboard.

4. In a pendulous bobbin holder, a vertical spindle having an upper head portion, a plurality of upreaching flexible fingers attached to the lower end of said spindle, said fingers being formed at their upper ends with portions adapted 6 to engage and support a bobbin, a laminated casing having an interior shoulder, an anti-friction bearing between said head portion and shoulder, a tubular lint guard telescoped over said spindle and loosely connected to the casing, said guard being arranged to project below said easing into said bobbin when assembled thereto, and means for attaching the casing to a creelboard.

5. In a bobbin holder, an anti-friction bearing, a casing therefor, means for attaching said casing to a creelboard, a vertical spindle rotatably suspended from said bearing, a flanged sleevelike tube surrounding said spindle and projecting through the bottom wall of said casing and normally forming a sealed connection therewith for effectively closing the casing to the entranceof lint, but being capable of swinging motion with the spindle, and a bobbin-gripping member anchored at the lower end of said spindle.

6. In a bobbin holder of the suspension type, a swivel head having an anti-friction bearing therein, said head having an integral tubular extension thereon, means including a threaded closure for attaching said head to a creelboard, a spindle supported on said bearing and projecting below said swivel head, and means including spring fingers for gripping a bobbin, said fingers being attached to said spindle and extending toward said head.

7. In a pendant type of bobbin holder, a swivel head, screw-threaded means for attaching the head to a creelboard, said head comprising annular laminations providing an interior cavity and a bottom wall having an opening therein, a unitary tension bar bracket between said head and creelboard, said unitary member having an upturned and a downturned end, a top lamination of the head having an opening leading into said cavity and receiving said downturned end, a flanged tube projecting through said bottom wall and loosely supported thereby, an anti-friction bearing in the head resting on said tube flange, a vertical spindle within said tube supported by said bearing, said tube fitting loosely around a substantial portion of the spindle length; and spring means fixed to the lower end of said spindle for supporting a bobbin thereon.

8. In a pendant type bobbin holder, a vertical spindle, means for releasably retaining a bobbin thereon including a cluster of self-bracing flexible units, means including a scalloped washer fixedly uniting the units to said spindle, means for supporting the spindle from a creelboard including an anti-friction swivel, and a tubular lint guard extending from said swivel within the bobbin.

9. In a pendulous bobbin holder for spinning frames, a cylindrical housing, means for closing one end of the housing and attaching it to a creelboard, said housing having an inwardly directed flange at its other end, a thimble telescoped loosely within the housing having a flange bearing on said housing flange, a spindle traversing the thimble having a flange within the housing forming a bearing race, bearing balls in the housing between the flange of the spindle and said bearing race, and supporting means fixed on the projecting end of the spindle for supplying a detachable connection with a bobbin.

10. A bobbin holder as set forth in claim 9 in which said supporting means is in the form of a plurality of spring arms fixed on the lower end of the spindle, and formed adjacent their tree ends withsurfaces to engage and su port a bobbin. 7

ii. A bobbin holder as set forth in claim 9 in which the supporting means are further characterized by adlacently paired flexible ringers formed as units, the arms of which at their point of connection with the spindle forming an acute angle.

12. In a pendulous bobbin holder for spinning frames. a vertical spindle, a plurality of upstanding bobbin-gripping members attached thereto, an anti-friction bearing for swivelably mounting said spindle. a cylindrical bearing housing having a bottom wall constituting an element of said bearing and having thereon an integral tubular extension proiecting downwardly within the opening 0! a bobbin when assembled thereto. a closure for the upper end of said housing. and screw-threaded means for attaching said closure to a creelboard.

13. In a pendulous bobbin holder, a vertical spindle, a plurality oi bottom-anchored bobbingripping members attached thereto. an antiiriction bearing on which said spindle is swiveled, a separable housing for said bearing, the upper element oi the housing being attached to a creelboard and a lower element housing said 25 Number 8 bearing and being extended on the lower suriace thereoi around said spindle to render said housing lint-tight, and means for coupling said upper and lower housing components.

14. In a pendulous bobbin holder a resilient bobbin engaging member, a vertical spindle on which said member ismounted, an anti-friction bearing pendulousiy supporting the spindle includinganupperracemember iixedtothe spindle. a lower race member having a sleeve surrounding the spindle and extending downwardly into the bobbin when it is mounted on the spindle so as to exclude lint from the bearing. and a housing enclosing the race members iorming a support for the lower race members, and means for rigidly attaching the housing to a creelboard.

JOHN P. GAREY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 2,145,362 Mann Jan. 31, 1934 2,217,922 Bayles et al. Oct. 15. 1940 

